(Dec. 4, 2014) Ocean Pines quietly dealt with a major controversy in mid-November, replacing embattled Yacht Club manager Dave McLaughlin and installing Beach Club manager Lynda Huettner on an interim basis.
Opened on Memorial Day weekend, the new $4.7 million facility won rave reviews for its facilities, but drew criticism from others in the community when the management style apparently scared away several community groups.
The Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce, for instance, booked its annual awards and installation banquet at the Ocean City Marlin Club, rather than at the Yacht Club. The Golf Association, a staple of the community, also snubbed the Yacht Club in favor of a West Ocean City venue.
Other community groups complained that they did not receive special treatment or reduced prices at the club, and some questioned whether the facility should function strictly as an amenity or more autonomously as a revenue-generating business.
More recently, during General Manager Bob Thompson’s town hall meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13, one resident asked why his email complaint about McLaughlin was not addressed. After a disagreement with a customer, he claimed, McLaughlin said, “I’m tired of hearing [from] Ocean Pines geriatric drunks.”
“I didn’t answer it by design,” Thompson said during the meeting. “I learned about the incident recently. It’s a personnel matter. I’m working through that.”
“They should not have been talked to in that way, I can tell you that,” Thompson added.
Another resident asked about an apparent rumor that McLaughlin had been fired.
“It’s a rumor,” Thompson said at the time.
The next day, Friday, Nov. 14, the OPA announced they had parted ways with McLaughlin. Thompson said the allegations brought up during the previous day’s meeting did not play a role in the apparent ousting.
“That had nothing to do with it,” he said. “I was aware of everything they had talked about, but meetings like that don’t change my mind on personnel issues. It’s a little bigger issue than individual cases.”
Instead, Thompson said, the yacht club simply needed “a change in direction.”
“We appreciate everything Dave’s done up to this point, but it was just time to move us in a different direction,” he said.
Asked if he saw the change in leadership as a chance to move on from the mounting controversies, Thompson was guardedly optimistic.
“I’m hoping it will, but we’re in Ocean Pines,” he said. “There will always be a little bit of controversy. This will bring new challenges and criticisms, but we have so many good things happening. I just try and keep us focused and pointed in that direction.”
Thompson hinted that the community could post advertisements for the managerial role in the near future, but expressed optimism in Huettner during the interim.
“Right now she’s stepped into the role and we think she’ll be awesome,” he said. “We’re excited about her leadership and we’ll start to move in a different direction.”
Teresa Travatello, OPA director of Marketing and Public Relations, also voiced her confidence.
“I’m very happy to have Lynda over at the Yacht Club,” she said. “She does a great job motivating the staff and creating a fun atmosphere for the customers.”
Opened on Memorial Day weekend, the new $4.7 million facility won rave reviews for its facilities, but drew criticism from others in the community when the management style apparently scared away several community groups.
The Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce, for instance, booked its annual awards and installation banquet at the Ocean City Marlin Club, rather than at the Yacht Club. The Golf Association, a staple of the community, also snubbed the Yacht Club in favor of a West Ocean City venue.
Other community groups complained that they did not receive special treatment or reduced prices at the club, and some questioned whether the facility should function strictly as an amenity or more autonomously as a revenue-generating business.
More recently, during General Manager Bob Thompson’s town hall meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13, one resident asked why his email complaint about McLaughlin was not addressed. After a disagreement with a customer, he claimed, McLaughlin said, “I’m tired of hearing [from] Ocean Pines geriatric drunks.”
“I didn’t answer it by design,” Thompson said during the meeting. “I learned about the incident recently. It’s a personnel matter. I’m working through that.”
“They should not have been talked to in that way, I can tell you that,” Thompson added.
Another resident asked about an apparent rumor that McLaughlin had been fired.
“It’s a rumor,” Thompson said at the time.
The next day, Friday, Nov. 14, the OPA announced they had parted ways with McLaughlin. Thompson said the allegations brought up during the previous day’s meeting did not play a role in the apparent ousting.
“That had nothing to do with it,” he said. “I was aware of everything they had talked about, but meetings like that don’t change my mind on personnel issues. It’s a little bigger issue than individual cases.”
Instead, Thompson said, the yacht club simply needed “a change in direction.”
“We appreciate everything Dave’s done up to this point, but it was just time to move us in a different direction,” he said.
Asked if he saw the change in leadership as a chance to move on from the mounting controversies, Thompson was guardedly optimistic.
“I’m hoping it will, but we’re in Ocean Pines,” he said. “There will always be a little bit of controversy. This will bring new challenges and criticisms, but we have so many good things happening. I just try and keep us focused and pointed in that direction.”
Thompson hinted that the community could post advertisements for the managerial role in the near future, but expressed optimism in Huettner during the interim.
“Right now she’s stepped into the role and we think she’ll be awesome,” he said. “We’re excited about her leadership and we’ll start to move in a different direction.”
Teresa Travatello, OPA director of Marketing and Public Relations, also voiced her confidence.
“I’m very happy to have Lynda over at the Yacht Club,” she said. “She does a great job motivating the staff and creating a fun atmosphere for the customers.”